Literary Focus: Early America Pre-Assessment

What is American culture characterized by according to the text?

• Isolation from other cultures

• A blend of features from other cultures

• Purely indigenous traditions

• Exclusive European influences

When did Europeans become widely aware of the Americas?

• During the voyages of Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century

• In 1620 when the Pilgrims landed

• After the Revolutionary War

• In the 18th century during the Enlightenment

Which European countries initially established colonies in the Americas?

• Italy and Germany

• Spain and England

• Norway and Sweden

• France and Russia

What was a common language in the colonies by the time England colonized the eastern seaboard?

• Spanish

• German

• English

• French

What type of literature was most common during the early colonial period?

• Romantic poetry

• Science fiction

• Utilitarian literature

• Detective novels

What was a significant body of literature produced by the Puritans?

• Romantic poetry

• Religious literature

• Political treatises

• Travel writing

What were the two important movements that influenced colonial culture in the 18th century?

• The Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution

• The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening

• The Reformation and the Scientific Revolution

• The Romantic Movement and Postmodernism

Who were some prominent figures who incorporated Enlightenment ideas into their rhetoric?

• Christopher Columbus and George Washington

• Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson

• William Bradford and Jonathan Edwards

• Phillis Wheatley and Alexander Pope

What did the Great Awakening promote in the colonies?

• A more personal approach to faith

• Strict adherence to traditional religious practices

• The establishment of a state religion

• The rejection of all religious beliefs

What was the main purpose of Native American oral literature according to the text?

• To entertain children

• To preserve beliefs and histories

• To teach European languages

• To promote war against colonists